Ferdegund:
It wasn't the biggest kill, but for a solitary lioness the young impala was a meal enough. Perhaps it was a little cruel, taking something so new to the world, but she couldn't afford to be chivalrous when her stomach went rumbling. It just wasn't meant to be. It had fallen behind the herd and by the time the mother had noticed that the baby was no longer at her side- it was too late. It was a little unnerving having the impala herd watching her from a safe distance, but then again it worked to her advantage. They'd scatter if another predator came by and it would keep the buzzards from alerting the scavangers for a time more.
Ferdegund ate quickly, knowing that at any moment she could have her kill hauled off by a group of hyenas or another roaming lion. Food was precious, and often times a kill wasn't finished off by the hunter. It was just the way of things. Of course- she tried defending her kill but after a hunt, she was left with very little strength and even less breath.
Zeki'Ilhami:
Days, it had been days since he had last seen his brother and the rest of the young males on their hunt, but the young adult paid no mind. While tradition had it that all of the young males left the pride on the hunt for new brides, it wasn't uncommon for one or two to break from the group and go about the trials on their own. Zeki was one such male. It wasn't that he didn't want the competition... Okay, so maybe it was. There was enough bad-blood between himself and his brother over his beloved Thabi, he didn't need to come into conflict with Ilyas over yet another female. As the light-colored male walked slowly along, his thoughts wandered to his timid female back home. It was true that he loved and cherished the female he had known from cub-hood, but he also had qualms about taking her as a true mate. They had been close friends for as long as he could remember and, if he were to be honest with himself, it would almost feel like mating with one of his sisters.
He let out a sigh, only to pause in surprise. A movement ahead caught his eye and he watched from his vantage point as a very pink lioness ran down a herd and took down a young impala. He watched her every move with fascination, impressed by her skill and her body. She was fast, he couldn't tell how strong she was from the take-down, and she was clever by the looks of it. She was absolutely perfect.
He waited a while, so that she would be a little more well-fed before he approached, every inch of his being trying to be as non-threatening as possible while at the same time dripping with his own cool confidence.
Ferdegund:
The female tensed as movement registered from the corner of her eye. She bared her teeth and crowded over her kill. It was more or less a bluff, as always. She'd been driven off a kill before, never by a male lion but by a trio of lionesses who had happened upon her.
"It's mine." She growled, testing her bluff against the large male, her voice still breathless.
Zeki'Ilhami:
"I wouldn't dream of taking it from you, my lady," Zeki replied with a calm smile and a short dip of his head, his cloudy gold eyes never leaving her deep black ones. They reminded him of the great lake on a darkened night.
"I had only hoped for your company for a time." He paused there to sit down and wave one paw idly, still several paces from her. No reason to scare such a beautiful specimen of the female species away.
"I've been away from my brothers for such a time that a new face, especially one as pretty as yours, and some conversation would be most welcome."
Ferdegund:
My lady? The lioness' snarl dropped into a suspicious stare. She wasn't exactly a vision of beauty at the moment. Her maw was covered in blood, her body covered in dust, and her body was still tense and battered from the hunt. As he took a seat she slowly lifted up away from her kill. With another lion about, at least, the scavangers wouldn't be as bold.
"Company you may have but mind yourself. Flattery will get you no where." She brought a paw up to begin the lengthy process of cleaning herself up. But...the flattery continued.
"... Uh..." She looked to her paw, then glanced up to him. Was he serious? A pretty face? "...what do you want? I'm not entirely convinced that a nice chat's on the forefront of your mind."
Zeki'Ilhami:
Zeki relaxed as she did, dipping his head slightly as his maw broke into a small grin when she assured him flattery would get him nowhere. He had severe doubts of that, but he said nothing to contradict her. In fact, when he finally spoke in response, he sounded downright disappointed. Like a cub who wanted to stay up and play for just a little longer past bedtime.
"Ah, but I'm so good at it." He even had the gall to pout a little bit at her. His grin returned with a vengeance, wider than it had been by a few good measurements, though he held nothing but good humor in his eyes.
"I have a great many things on my mind that's true, but a bit of your company and time is fairly high on the list, and I assure you only one of them contains any sort of mischief towards you." He smoothed the admission with a playful wink and a wave of his paw.
"But, I am a good enough sort, I believe. I promise no mischief unless you ask it of me."
Ferdegund:
"Silver tongues turn to lead quickly, stranger. Especially when met with a critical mind." But...it was kind of fun that he was trying to get on her goodside. Even with dirt and blood clinging to her fur and stiking it up in small clumps around her mouth, neck, and paws. What a puzzle this one was. Suspicion continued to linger on her features as she hovered over her kill. Now that she had been able to digest a good portion of her kill she was feeling its weight in her body. Maybe those scavangers had a reason. Still- it was her kill.
"Very well...what did you need to discuss oh impish one?"
Zeki'Ilhami:
"It would take much more to leaden my silver tongue. My father is certainly a master and I'm an avid pupil when I have a mind," Zeki replied, the humor still in his voice. Gods, she was wonderful! She reminded him of his second mother, his father's favorite wife. It would figure that this was the sort of female he would track down in the roguelands. Besides blood-mixing, he was starting to understand why they left the pride for things like this.
He huffed a bit and raked a paw over his mane.
"Stranger is such a cold word. My name is Zeki'Ilhami, but you're welcome to just call me Zeki." He didn't ask for her name, she'd tell him when she wanted to.
He glanced off and shrugged a bit.
"Anything, really. I wasn't lying when I said I'd been separated from my companions for a time. I was beginning to worry I'd start talking to myself if my solitude continued for much longer."
Ferdegund:
"Then you'll find I present quite a challange for you, master flatterer." She began grooming herself, licking down her paws and running them over her muzzle. If only he'd come at a better time. She didn't feel quite on her game to verbally spar with this stranger. She was tired and now very ready to lounge in the sun and clean herself up.
"Zeki then. But you are still strange to me. We've not yet shared a hunt or more than a few exchanged words." It was a fair statement. She couldn't trust him, not yet. She wasn't sure what exactly what he wanted but conversation likely wasn't it. There was something behind that.
She chuckled around her paw and glanced over. "Well thank Mkodi for small miracles then. Help yourself, I think the kill's got me round enough."
Zeki'Ilhami:
Zeki's ears perked up when she offered what was left of her kill. Yes, he was a competent hunter, but he had yet to eat anything today and how could he refuse a "free" meal?
"My thanks are yours, lady," he replied with another bow of his head before he moved forward and began to fill himself with what was left of the kill. He smiled even as he ate as he considered her previous statements. A challenge indeed, and a pretty one at that. Sure, she was dirty and disheveled from her hunt, but having watched her do so had sent a thrill through him and for some reason it made her more attractive. Maybe it was because it was a representation of her skill as a huntress.
"Perhaps we could go on a hunt sometime. I've never hunted with another creature before."
Ferdegund:
"Eh, thanks for leftovers are thanks for leftovers. I just don't want it to go to waste." She settled down to her belly and groomed herself while the male ate the remainder of her meal. By the time he was done, she had cleaned herself up well enough and had settled herself into a more comfortable position. Eating made her groggy, and with the heat of the day lingering above, she couldn't move if she wanted to. It was nice to have another pair of eyes and ears, but she'd not say that out loud.
"That would be interesting. Are you good on your feet, good stamina, or are you more the short burst type?"
Zeki'Ilhami:
Zeki had finished and started cleaning himself of the gore when she spoke again. He paused in his grooming, tilting his head as he looked off in contemplation.
"I would say... my stamina is good, but I have more power than speed. I try to ambush more than chase, which is far more difficult that one might think, though I'm sure you'd understand," he replied, giving her a smile and a wave of his paw.
"A fair coat is often both a blessing and a curse. Most of my siblings are fortunate enough to have darker fur than I, at least they can favor the night if need be, though my sisters generally work together on hunts." He made no mention of his mothers, it was too soon for that. Much as it was his way of life, he understood that not all lions believe it. In truth, he didn't understand why not. Males were big and heavy, meant for fighting other predators while females were lithe and faster, perfect for chasing down prey. But it was much easier for them to work as a team. Then why did others seem put off by that? He loved all his mothers dearly, just as he knew his father truly had no mate he favored over the others. Mzu could think he loved her more all she wanted, but there was none as precious or greater to Zeki's father as his mates and cubs. He loved them all equally and Zeki only hoped he could have such love to give as he grew older and began his own family.
"I feel at a disadvantage, lady. You have my name, but I remain wanting of yours."
Ferdegund:
"Ah well then, I think it would be best if you play ambush and I play flusher. I can keep on my paws for a bit." And..she didn't exactly have the hammer blow of a male. She could hold her own, certainly, but she'd never brought down anything larger than an impala. A male would have the strength and fortitude to hold out against something larger.
"You don't have to tell me." Her ears rolled back. "I'm not exactly the type to blend in with my environment. Nor were my sisters to be honest." Wherever they were now... there had been three of them, each with a bright coat. Two pink, one yellow. Heavens only knew where her twin had gone off to... her pink sister had longed for the mountains. And her mother, a pure pink lioness, had left them when they were old enough to hold their own. "But where one trait is weak, we make up for it somewhere else."
She chuckled and raised her chin. "It's Ferdegund. And I'm not fond of nicknames."
Zeki'Ilhami:
Zeki settled down into his own relaxed position, keeping the remains of the kill between them. Her plan certainly sounded like it would work. And it would be quite interesting to hunt with her. He wasn't closed-minded enough to refuse helping her or receiving her help. At least not in the roguelands.
"We do indeed. I'll admit I'm not looked at very often by my pride-brothers without grins or remarks over my appearance. I favor my mother far more that I wished. But I've made it clear that I'm not one to be trifled with." Sure, he would never be as large as his father or some of his younger brothers, no doubt. But of them, Zeki was extremely clever and very willing to bring another male under his paw to remind them he was no push-over.
